Leaders make pitches to local officials
Electioneering on display at municipal convention
Typically, when the leaders of B.C.'s three major political parties take the stage at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, their speeches focus on the relationship between the province and local governments, and how they're working with municipalities on their priorities.
For the governing party, it's also a chance to sprinkle in some program or funding announcements.
However, this year's convention was anything but typical.
Due to COVID-19, the event was being held entirely online, so leaders directed their comments to cameras in a mostly empty room instead of a receptive — in most instances — crowd in a ballroom.
The upcoming provincial election, which was called Monday, changed the tone of the speeches.
While there has always been an aspect of self-promotion to the addresses, this year's were pure electioneering. B.C.'s fixed election date was set for the fall of next year, but NDP Leader John Horgan said he needed political stability and called a vote for Oct. 24 of this year.
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson told delegates Wednesday that Horgan's New Democrats played politics with a provincial economic recovery plan — which he said fell short — by delaying its introduction to coincide with the snap election call.
“Is that really what the NDP wanted to do to get elected? To derail our society at the time of greatest need? To play with people's lives? To tease them with hope and then take it away? We say this is an unethical move that they've done,” Wilkinson said.
He also focused on the struggles faced by communities that rely on the forestry industry, which have been hit by mill closures and job losses.
Wilkinson said the Liberals are poised to introduce a campaign platform that focuses on jobs, child care, housing, crime, addiction and homelessness. It will also include “some very provocative environmental policies.”
The B.C. Green party's recently elected leader, Sonia Furstenau, also criticized the election call, reiterating that her party was willing to work with the NDP to maintain the stability of the minority government.
Furstenau talked at length about the minority government's achievements — particularly those related to the environment and climate change — and how the Greens helped to make them a reality. Although she touched on the need for “calm and responsible,” and “bold and courageous” leadership, Furstenau didn't talk about the party's platform.
She touched on the election timing as it related to the convention, saying, “This week was supposed to be about you and your communities. Instead, the legislative assembly was dissolved in the first day of your conference, at a time when it has never been more crucial to focus on local governance.”
Horgan's talk took the form of back-and-forth with Metro Vancouver chairman and Burnaby Coun. Sav Dhaliwal, during which he said once again that he “grappled” with the decision to call an election, but thought it was the right move to seek a majority in order to deal with the pandemic and economic recovery.
In response to questions from Dhaliwal, Horgan committed to partnering with local governments to acquire more park land — while plugging the NDP's work on climate change — and continuing to invest in affordable homes, along with shelter spaces and other housing for those who are homeless.
On infrastructure, he said the province would keep putting money into construction, citing examples of hospitals, transit improvements, and roads and bridges that the government have funded.
“I believe that we've worked hard, very hard, with other orders of government to make sure that we're putting in place plans to ensure that you are not left holding the bag for the services that your community depends upon,” Horgan said.
To play with people's lives? To tease them with hope and then take it away?” Andrew Wilkinson